Another E. coli lawsuit was filed today
against Detroit-based Aunt Mid’s Produce in the aftermath of a lettuce-borne
outbreak linked to the company. The complaint was filed in the Washtenaw County
Circuit Court on behalf of a University of Michigan senior sickened in the
outbreak. The plaintiff is represented by Marler Clark, a Seattle food borne
illness law firm, and by Michael Heilmann of the Detroit-area attorney Michael
Heilmann.

In September 2008, at least 38 people were
sickened in Michigan alone by the virulent E. coli strain O157:H7. The ill
included 4 University of Michigan students as well as 9 students at Michigan
State University and inmates at Lenawee County Jail. The investigation
conducted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) traced the outbreak
to iceberg lettuce commercially distributed by Aunt Mid’s Produce. Genetic
fingerprinting matched the illnesses across the state, as well as to others
sickened in Illinois and Canada.

The plaintiff consumed the contaminated
lettuce in mid-September, and by September 19, she began to experience
abdominal cramps, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. She sought treatment at the
University of Michigan Health Service Clinic, and by the time she arrived
there, her cramps were so intense she had trouble breathing. Due to her severe
dehydration, the clinic nurse was unable to administer IV fluids, so she was
discharged and instructed to go immediately to the University of Michigan
Hospital Emergency Room. A stool sample was taken while she was at the clinic which
later confirmed her E. coli O157:H7 infection.

While at the UM Hospital Emergency room, the
plaintiff continued to experience bouts of bloody diarrhea every 15 minutes,
and was in extreme pain. In triage, her vital signs were stable, so the
hospital declined to admit her. Her mother then drove the plaintiff to the
Royal Oak hospital, where she continued to endure her symptoms for hours until
she was admitted. She remained hospitalized for 10 days, and during that time
had to be fed by a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) in her chest,
as she was unable to eat or drink. Even though she was discharged on September
30, the PICC remained in place until October 6. She continues to recover from
her illness.

“This young woman endured a severe and excruciating
illness, just because of something she ate,” said her attorney, William Marler.
“She was so worried about missing school that she returned to class while still
being fed by the PICC. We need to make sure she doesn’t worry about how to pay
her medical bills. We also need to work to prevent future outbreaks; Aunt Mid’s
could help that process by revealing the source of their contaminated lettuce,
but they continue to refuse to do so.”

Earlier this month, the two firms representing
the plaintiff filed suit on behalf of another student sickened in the outbreak.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of foodborne illness outbreaks.